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Naxal violence forces AP to beef up security for CM

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Security for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Home Minister T Devender Goud, other ministers, legislators and top police officials has been beefed up in the wake of the outlawed People's War Group's escalating violence.

More vehicles have been added to the convoys of the chief minister, the home minister and other ministers hailing from the Naxalite-affected districts in a bid to provide fool-proof security.

Similarly, security has been strengthened at the residences of the chief minister and other ministers with the deployment of more armed personnel. Even at the NTR Trust complex, where the ruling Telugu Desam Party headquarters is located, security measures have been tightened.

As part of the security arrangements, it has been decided to restrict visitors to the chief minister, home minister and the director general of police. The security personnel attached to the chief minister and his ministerial colleagues have been provided with bullet-proof jackets.

The VIP security wing has reviewed the security arrangements for the ministers as well as the legislators and other elected functionaries in the Naxalite-affected areas of the state.

As many as 600 political leaders including 255 legislators are being provided with gunmen.

The state police has also beefed up the security for Director General of Police H J Dora and other top police officials, besides the superintendents of police and other functionaries. Armed pickets have been posted at the residences of the top police functionaries.

The police has advised the political leaders and others on the hit-list of the Naxalites to keep away from the extremist-affected areas.

Consequently, most legislators, local body functionaries and others are staying put in Hyderabad to escape the Naxalite wrath.

The police has tightened the security at the legislators' hostels and legislators' quarters in Hyderabad.

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